2011, a knitting wrap up

So, as has become customary, let's wrap up 2011, knitwise!

1. Coco Top, 2. Bogus Hat, 3. Shur'tugal Socks, 4. Pompom Tea Cosy, 5. Lace Edged Cardi, 6. Stripey Cardi, 7. Montego Bay, 8. Nutkins, 9. Grapevine, 10. Spanish Dress, 11. Teddy Cardi, 12. Akomeogi Socks, 13. Stripey Little Mitts, 14. Keyhole Scarf #2, 15. Keyhole Scarf #1, 16. Blossom, 17. Easy Top Down Raglan, 18. Floyd, 19. Smoulder, 20. Edie, 21. Fancy Schmancy, 22. Billy Bruce's Cardi, 23. Mouse Comfort, 24. Lily Cardigan, 25. Plum Frost, 26. Lace Edged Baby Hat, 27. Sophie MkIII, 28. Valentine Cardi, 29. Hitchhiker, 30. Baby Kina, 31. KawKawEsque, 32. Elspeth33. Not available34. Not available35. Not available36. Not available

I was very surprised to see my output this year! In 2010, I completed 35 projects, in 2009, 33. Honestly, I thought this year would prove to be far less productive.

But wasn't I wrong?!? 32 finished projects. A tiny bit less than average. Starting two jobs this year after having been out of the workforce for almost a decade apparently didn't have the impact that I thought it would. Of course, one of those jobs being in a very yummy yarn store, where I got to actually knit, helps. And the commute there and back on public transport is also (usually) uninterrupted knitting time!

Nine full sized adult garments! Lots of little projects and shop samples, but I'm good with that. A little bit of everything in that little selection up there. Garments, scarves, socks, a lace sweater. No shawls, but I rarely wear any of the ones I've made in the past anyway. I think this year my knitting took a more functional direction. More garments that I actually wear, scarves for accessorising. Socks, baby gifts, store samples. It's nice to use/wear the things you knit, and I think this year I've managed that.

You may also notice two finished but unblogged projects up there too. Elspeth is all done, I wore it today and Knitabulous took some pictures for me. There'll be a blog post in the next day or two. And the Baby Kina has yet to meet her recipient, so I'm hoping for a future blog post on that too.

2012? Well, I learned in the past couple of weeks that I've been accepted into TAFE for my Library Diploma in 2012. It's a full time, year long course. I'll be doing that online in addition to continuing to work at Calico & Ivy and at the library job I have now. I'd really like to get something more permanent in the library (I'm only a casual right now) and the Diploma is the logical next step. Will I manage all three? We'll find out when it all gets started in February, I guess! Will I manage to knit as well?

I certainly intend to!

Also, the Ella Reinvented Knit A Long starts in mid January, and I'm looking forward to that. Hopefully my yarn will arrive sometime this week and I can begin swatching. Until then, I've pulled the Camber Cardigan out of hibernation and restarted on that. Last time Camber appeared on the blog was way back in March, and it's sat in a bag, ignored, ever since. I got it out and started working on it again, Why was it ignored so long? No idea, the boring black laceweight stockinette was boring. But since picking it back up, I'm almost finished the body. It's true you see, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Or it makes you forget that the project you were working on had bored you silly!

See you in 2012!

Nothing up my sleeve...

So a little trickery. A finished project that maybe just isn't quite finished.

See, I really wanted to make a blog post today. But I'm just 14 rows short of finishing the KawKawEsque socks. 14 measly rows. I could've done them now, posted later, but we're having a visitor, and going out to dinner. Then I'd lose the light, and it'd be put off until tomorrow. And Twinkie has a vet appointment in the morning, so it'd be tomorrow afternoon. Then something else would happen, and this is precisely why the blog posts never go up exactly when I plan them to.

Now just imagine you don't know any of what you just read, and we'll all pretend that I'm showing off finished socks.

Look! KawKawEsque!

Awesomeness. I showed them to David when I bought the pattern a while back. "Do you like these?" And his response?

"Aren't they just plain socks?" No, David, they are not. He couldn't see the cleverness of the rib pattern, starting at the central spine and wrapping around the sock. Now he does. Or at least, he placates me and says he does.

That Yarnissima is a clever woman!

Specs:
Pattern: KawKawEsque by Yarnissima
Yarn: Wollmeise 100% Merino Superwash in Lowenzahn
Needles: 2mm bamboo DPNS
Mods: None.

I'm a little worried about how these socks will stand up to wear, being 100% Merino. David is a little hard on his socks, so we shall see.
Yarnissima writes a pattern that delivers a most beautiful work of art. Reading the pattern is somewhat of an art form in itself. I started these socks back at the end of October, and took them along to Sewjourn. Fortunately I didn't drink an awful lot of alcohol while we were there, because reading the pattern and the chart while sober was difficult enough.
The only advice I can offer is don't question it. Just do exactly what the pattern says, even if it doesn't seem to make sense at the time. And trust me, sometimes it won't make sense at all. It's a 9 page pattern. There are 7 charts.

And you'll end up with 2 gorgeous socks. Well, you will soon.

Haven't had a Twinkie update in a while. She was not impressed by this "Santa" caper.

But then she came around.

And me?

Ridiculously spoiled, and completely surprised!

More finished stuff

I like the way my blog looks like all I do is finish things. The reality is of course, way different, but I've been blogging less this year, so there's been a lot more posts featuring finished items than works in progress!

I finally finished my Hitchhiker! I know some people rave about this, saying it's a great, fast knit, but for me it just wasn't. It was boring. B-O-R-I-N-G. It took forever, and all that garter stitch drove me batty. Only the gorgeousness of the yarn kept me going. But I'm glad it did, because I love the finished item.

Specs:
Pattern: Hitchhiker scarf by Martina Behm
Yarn: The gorgeous FiftyFifty by Knitabulous. Not sure what the colourway is called.
Needles: 3mm Addi Turbo.
Mods: I had intended to keep going until I ran out of yarn, but 45 points in, I'd had enough.

So, I'm happy with the scarf, love the colours, will wear it often, will undoubtedly never, ever knit it again!

RoseRed came by the shop the other day, and you know what she did? She taught me how to do the crochet edge on Elspeth!

Hooray! I'm super slow, and it's eating heaps of yarn, but I'm managing. I sincerely doubt I'd ever use it for more than just edging, but at least I've managed that much.

And another project in progress photo just to show that i don't just produce the items out of thin air, I've started a Baby Kina.

So quick! So cute! I'm seriously loving these quick, easy projects.

But to counter all that, I've joined in the fun of the Ella Reinvented KAL! This is a longer term project, and I've been asked to be one of the key bloggers knitting along! The KAL will start on January 16, and my yarn is on it's way to me. Can't wait to start this one :)

Elspeth

You know what I love? I love polar bears. And my family. My cutesy bunny rabbit. My friends. Sleeping. Chocolate. Yarn. Knitting.

Oh hang on, I got sidetracked. I do love all of those things, but I really love Elspeth.

What's not to love about a short cardi that I cast on a week ago and is right this minute blocking?

I've seamed the raglan seams and left the side seams until after it's blocked. Then I just have to learn to do some crochet to finish the edges.

A bit worried about that bit. Especially seeing as my crochet hook roll has completely disappeared. I bought a new hook, though. Dedication, guys!

My Valentine

A finished project! A garment! For Me! (Finally)

Loving it!
Specs:
Pattern: Valentine Cardi by Laura Chau for Spud & Chloe
Yarn: Spud & Chloe Fine in Calypso, 4 skeins. I have about 50g left from the fourth skein.
Needles: 3.5mm
Mods: I made the sleeves a little longer, otherwise it was knit to the pattern.

This one had me worried while I was knitting it. I couldn't decide whether to knit the smallest or second size, as I fall right smack in between them. I asked on Ravelry, I looked at the finished projects, and I finally decided on the smallest size. I knit the body first, and it looked tiny. When I'd finished it, I was absolutely positive that I was going to have to rip it and start over.
So I decided to block the body before I frogged it and started over.
And I'm mightily glad I did, because it blocked out to the perfect size! So I did the bands, and left the sleeves until last, becasue I knew I wanted the sleeves longer and wanted to make sure I had enough yarn. Ultimately I had enough yarn to go for full length sleeves if I'd wanted, but I was sick of the sight of it and just wanted it off the needles.

So I'm fickle, sue me!

I wore it to Not Quite high tea last Sunday, and I was very happy with it - except that the elbow length sleeves stretched out around my elbow. The yarn is a silk/wool blend. Lovely to knit with but it did stretch out a bit when I wore it, and it'll be interesting to see how it stands up over time.

Next up int he Knit Parade?

Elspeth, in some of my precious Calmer!

What's been happening?

What's been happening at Casa De Random?

Knitting.

I finished Sophie the Fourth.

For a coworker expecting her third baby. I handed it over last night and she was delighted.

Specs:
Pattern: Sophie by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Rowan Pima Cotton in Pampas, one and a bit balls, from Calico & Ivy
Needles: 2.5mm DPNS.

Started on October 27, languished for a while, then a final burst saw her finished this week. Great baby gift, I've knit bunches of Ysolda's toys for new babies. Doesn't matter what sex the baby is, doesn't matter what season it's born in, and it won't outgrow it in no time flat - what's not to love?

I also knit a baby hat for the shop.

Specs:
Pattern: Bonnet by Erika Knight from Natural Baby Knits
Yarn: Rowan Milk Cotton Fine in Opaque
Needles: 2.25mm

Cute! I stuffed up the lace edge the first time around, but once I got it right, it flew off the needles. This is the smallest size, and it is indeed tiny. The matching bootees may follow. Maybe.

There has been other knitting, but more importantly there has been panic stashing of the (sadly!) discontinued Rowan Calmer.

Preen, 10 balls.

Aquamarine, 10 balls

Garnet, 10 balls

Plum, 4 balls.

Is 34 balls enough? Should I get more? Any other yarn, I wouldn't be quite so panicked, but Calmer is such an unusual yarn.

Dilemmas, I have them!